Rojin Nair, Advisor
June 1st, 2021
Private Capital Journal | | May 24, 2022
The Canadian federal government released its Request for Proposals (RFP) for fund-of-funds and fund managers wishing to apply for its Venture Capital Catalyst Initiative-2 (VCCI-2) program in mid-May. This program follows upon the Venture Capital Action Plan (VCAP) of 2013 and the VCCI-1 of 2017. All three versions have had the express purpose of strengthening the Canadian venture capital (VC) industry by injections of public monies in partnership with private capital sources.
Stepping back and looking at the forest not the trees, VCCI-2 reveals the essential small ‘c’ conservative of federal venture capital support policy going back to Prime Minister Harper’s VCAP nine years ago. A prime example of the inflexibility of the program design has to do with the list of industries in which successful applicants are forbidden to invest. These include the usual cast of suspects, namely tobacco, alcohol, gambling, pornography and weapons.
VCCI-2 is also a very big “L” Liberal entity that strongly reflects the ethos of the current federal government. Of course, it has long been criticized for neglecting National Defense and has been the subject of intense criticism on the procurement front and so the prohibition against investing in weapons firms under the VCCI-2 seems to provide further evidence of Ottawa’s reluctance in dealing with military hardware. That ethos extends to what it calls DEI which is a very important component of VCCI-2 and even includes a small $50 million amount for five to ten managers in this particular space. The political risk to the fund of funds, their LP’s and their investee companies and funds that choose to sign on to the VCCI-2 is that that very participation signals their concurrence with the political priorities of the current regime in Ottawa and in so doing makes less likely any future support program under a different government whose own priorities are likely to differ.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Support NCFA by Following us on Twitter!Follow @NCFACanada ![]() Not to be missed! Registration NOW OPEN! |
Website Planet | Tom Read | May 24, 2022
List of all the companies that decided to leave Russia/stop business in Russia following the war // companies that decided to stay
Multinational companies can no longer ignore social and political issues. Their actions and policies must reflect the values of their customers.
We’ve compiled the most extensive list of multinational companies and their responses to the invasion. While some companies have been praised for their efforts, others have been justifiably accused of not doing enough.
This article will cover the companies that have left or partially left Russia, and those that stayed. We’ll provide regular updates to keep the information accurate and relevant, so make sure to check back in!
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Support NCFA by Following us on Twitter!Follow @NCFACanada ![]() Not to be missed! Registration NOW OPEN! |
Guest Post | May 24, 2022
Source: Unsplash
Getting a business review running might be exhausting enough. But there comes also a part when you need to write things down for your presentation, which is an additional challenge. To alleviate this task for you, we have compiled a list of the best online tools for writing business reviews. Some of them are free and some expect you to invest your finances in your writing assistance tool. Check them out and make your decision on which type of writing assistant is the best for your business reviews.
This invaluable tool comes in handy for any type of written work. You can install it as a desktop app, or browser add-on, integrate it into Word, or access the tool directly on the Grammarly website. It checks your grammar and suggests a better way to put your sentences without sounding wordy. Running your text through Grammarly or a similar grammar-checking tool is a must for any professional document. Even if you feel confident about your writing skills, there is still a possibility to misspell a word or use a wrong article. Grammarly will catch these for free and even suggest you a proper writing tone.
This free-to-use writing tool is very similar to Google Docs, but has several advantages over it:
You can get this tool working on any browser, Android or IOS. The only downside of it is an outdated interface that you’ll need to get used to.
This marvel of engineering literally writes text for you. All you need to do is to write the first sentence, and the AI will continue your thought indefinitely. It may sound like cheating, but it really does its work well. You can direct the AI by typing a command that would make it rephrase or expand a paragraph. ShortlyAI is a great tool for writing speeches or filling your presentation points with clarification. The tool is free, but there is a premium plan that could be paid per month or annually with the first two months for free.
This superb tool is costly but has a range of features that easily put it above all others. Jasper is a writing assistant that can generate text that would sound genuine, and do it in more than 25 languages. Its interface is intuitive and works on any platform - computer or mobile. Use it to make your business reviews sound professional and clear.
This assistant works similarly to Grammarly but has some additional features. The main appeal of this tool is its team-oriented work. You can use it to create a solid voice for your company across your employees. If you are seeking to make your presentations and business reviews sound unique and consistent across the workspace, the Writer tool is for you. It catches grammar mistakes and helps to break up unclear sentences. You can install it as an add-on to MS Word, or open an online Writer editor. There is a free month trial that follows by an affordable paid subscription.
This grammar checker is a blessing for all who struggle with enriching their texts with synonyms. You can get it for free as a Chrome extension, but the full editor is available only to those who are ready to pay its steep price. Nevertheless, you will get a professional editing tool that you could integrate into just about any office writing app. ProWritingAid will not only point out your writing mistakes but also will level up your general literary skills by serving as a writing coach.
Is a text-generating tool that would guide you through the entire process. It has an invaluable feature of generating titles, outlines and meta descriptions, and other things that essay writers usually have to do manually. Of course, only human effort can provide the best titles.
Writing assistance tools can be beneficial for your business reviews for many reasons. Use them for brainstorming ideas for your presentation, writing an intro, or conclusions, and generating memorable headlines. Writing tools can significantly improve your business report, and using a grammar check should be a prerequisite for any writing work. You can install them as business apps on your phone or as extensions to the computer programs that would always assist you while you write. The key decision here is whether you want a free tool, or would like to invest money in order to make your business reviews sound more professional.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Support NCFA by Following us on Twitter!Follow @NCFACanada ![]() Not to be missed! Registration NOW OPEN! |
Centre for Future Work | Jim Stanford | May 24, 2022
There is little evidence that robots and other advanced technologies are displacing workers and causing technological unemployment in Canada. To the contrary, Canada’s adoption of new technology has surprisingly slowed down in recent years. That is the conclusion of a major new report on innovation and automation in Canada’s economy, from the Centre for Future Work.
The report, titled Where are the Robots?, reviews nine empirical indicators of Canadian innovation, technology adoption, and robotization. They paint a worrisome picture that Canadian businesses have dramatically reduced their innovation effort since the turn of the century, and are lagging well behind other industrial countries in putting new technology to work in the real economy.
While there is no evidence that the quantity of jobs in Canada has been undermined by new technology, there are many signs that the composition and quality of work has shifted in negative ways.
“The failure of employers to implement new technologies is causing an over-reliance on low-quality work, holding back our productivity and incomes, and squandering the potential for safer jobs and more leisure time.”
The report makes 6 policy recommendations to improve innovation and technology adoption in Canada, including reforming fiscal incentives, expanding publicly-funded R&D, nurturing industries that use more robots and machinery, and giving workers more say in how technological change is implemented in workplaces.
Jim Stanford, Economist and Director of the Centre for Future Work:
“Technology will be neither the hero nor the villain in the future of work – it all depends how technology is used, and how the costs and benefits are shared. But the reality is that Canada’s technological performance is flagging, fast. Revitalizing technological innovation and adoption, and ensuring that it enhances jobs not displaces workers, is vital to our future economic and social progress.”
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Support NCFA by Following us on Twitter!Follow @NCFACanada ![]() Not to be missed! Registration NOW OPEN! |
Scott Galloway | May 24, 2022
By far, Google Chrome is the most popular browser in the world
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Support NCFA by Following us on Twitter!Follow @NCFACanada ![]() Not to be missed! Registration NOW OPEN! |
Guest Post | May 24, 2022
We know for a fact that digitalization has taken over the world. As a result, digital payment usage is booming like never before. These days, there are plenty of payment options available. Whether it be getting salaries, purchasing something, or ordering food, most of the population is interested in digital payment, thanks to the seamless deposits and withdrawals.
With this growth and flexibility in payment methods, businesses need to keep up with the trend and expand their payment options. Otherwise, they might lose a large demographic for insufficient payment facilities and eventually face devastating business loss.
With huge diversity among customers, payment preference is bound to vary. Therefore, multiple payment methods in e-commerce can lead to an increase in revenue. Lack of options in payment can cost you losing potential customers.
On average, 70% of customers abandon their cart on e-commerce sites. Among them, 8% do so due to the lack of payment options, and the percentage is 42% in the US. This percentage can be crucial for many businesses. Building trust with the customers and providing them with what they want is essential to achieving e-commerce success.
E-commerce sites are dynamic these days to reach out to a larger target audience. As many people are becoming interested in e-commerce as customers, the diversity in payment methods is also evident. However, if e-commerce businesses cannot satisfy the payment need of the larger audience, then there will be no progress.
For instance, a computer user can be comfortable using the debit/credit card method on an e-commerce site. The site might be dynamic and catered to suit the needs of mobile users as well. However, a mobile user might be comfortable paying on mobile banking, but if they do not get the mobile payment option at the check-out, they are more likely to abandon their cart.
To satisfy the needs of customers who are comfortable with varying payment methods, multiple payment options in e-commerce are necessary. A survey among US consumers shows that 26% are not willing to adopt a new payment method.
More options are more convenient for customers. They might be using several payment methods, and when they find all of their desired choices, they are more eager to purchase. Then again, if customers are having some issues with one payment method, they can use another one.
Otherwise, they will just leave the website without making any purchase. Options are payment methods that decrease the dependency on a particular payment method. Therefore, for more conversion, multiple payments are a must.
Customers want a fast and easy transaction. If easier options are not available, customers feel less interested. About 58% of US customers stop at the check-out process due to the complications in the check-out. This is more than half the customers, which means the effects can be drastic for a business.
The e-commerce world has become incredibly competitive. Unless a business adapts to the latest requirements of customers, it will fall behind in the competition. There is no denying that one of the key requirements in e-commerce these days is options for payment.
To engage with customers and generate sales, a business has to understand the needs of their customers, especially with payments. Ultimately, a company will be successful once the customer pays for a product. Eventually, the business will flourish and go ahead of its competitors.
Gaining customers' trust by providing a secure and hassle-free payment method is essential for the growth of a business. These payment methods are transparent, easy to get a solution when some problem occurs, and easy to get refunds. Different people can find other payment options safer and easier. Therefore, there is no alternative to having multiple options to satisfy a larger demographic.
Multiple payment options are a must for e-commerce success. However, with thousands of options available, a business cannot offer all of them. The key is to offer the most popular payment methods from each category. Then again, not all payment options will be suited for your business.
The variety of payment methods available these days can be divided into four categories. They are as follows.
Undeniably, different payment methods in any e-commerce make more customers purchase. Also, they are more likely to become loyal customers. This increases revenue. Therefore, multiple payment methods are crucial for e-commerce success. Hence, provide your consumers with multiple payment options and witness it having a positive impact on the revenue of your business.
The National Crowdfunding & Fintech Association (NCFA Canada) is a financial innovation ecosystem that provides education, market intelligence, industry stewardship, networking and funding opportunities and services to thousands of community members and works closely with industry, government, partners and affiliates to create a vibrant and innovative fintech and funding industry in Canada. Decentralized and distributed, NCFA is engaged with global stakeholders and helps incubate projects and investment in fintech, alternative finance, crowdfunding, peer-to-peer finance, payments, digital assets and tokens, blockchain, cryptocurrency, regtech, and insurtech sectors. Join Canada's Fintech & Funding Community today FREE! Or become a contributing member and get perks. For more information, please visit: www.ncfacanada.org
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Support NCFA by Following us on Twitter!Follow @NCFACanada ![]() Not to be missed! Registration NOW OPEN! |